The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-08-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.



WASHINGTON, ID. O., August /, 1887.
About the busiest man in this city at
present is the clerk OF the House OF Rep
resentatives, who is engaged In looking
into and preparing the contested Congress
siona election cases, the evidence In which
must be printed before the convening OF
the Fiitieth Congress; 1t is thought that
there will be only six such cases In the
body, one each from Alabama, South Caro-
lima, Indiana, and Illinois, and two from
California--a much smaller number than
usual.
The Republicans in Washington viewed
with much interest, not to say anxiety the
late meeting and action of the Ohio Repub-
lcan State Convention; Sherman's friends
feel elated over his victory, although many
Of them seriously doubt the policy of his
course in forcing an endorsement while
Blaine's followers are in rage and swear
they will get even next year by sending
delegation from the Buckeye State favor
able TO the aspirations of the man from
Maine. One OF these infuriated Blaineites
was heard to declare Shermans action
in capturing the convention and shaping it
in his own interests one OF the most shame
less and humiliating spectacles ever wit
messed in American politics-more like the
manipulation of scheming ward polite
statesman, seeking the highest and most
honorable station on earth. For once am
willing to hold up this Blaine man as true
exponent Of Democratic opinion on the
subject under consideration, so i will drop
the matter right here.
Probably there are few persons who real.
ize the tremendous task of compiling and
publishing the war papers known as the
| ''Rebellion Records" the eighteenth vol
ume of which has Just been printed and is
ready for distribution. This volume only
takes the great work up to the year 1862; II
is calculated that all of the records will
make 1877 volumes and that it will not be
| finished until late in the next century, at a
| time VIII, n there will probably be not one
survivor of the civil strife il commemo.
rates.
The total receipts from all sources of in
| ternal revenue for the late fiscal year
amount to $118,S35,7 ,757 exceeding by ST.
| 932, 1888 that of the year before. There
was a decrease in the tax on distilled spirits
and an increase in the tax on all other ar
| ticles, such as tobacco, oleomaigerine and
fermented liquors.
| A showing almost as good is made in re-
gard to the imports and exports OF the
| United States for the same period as fol-
| follows. Exports of merchandise $716,-
| 704, 1884, imports, $3.50, ,951; excess of ex-
ports, $24, ,445, 1885, gold exported, so, 0,T01,-
1877; imported, $42,90S, ,901; excess of i'm
ports, $33, ,207, ia; silver exported, $780,
276, ,504; imported, Sl7,260, l91; excess of
exports, $9,036,313; total number Of i'm
| migrants, 4S3, JIG.
The jolly drummers have been halted in
their triumphant march by the ruling OF
the Interstate Commission that the rail-
roads cannot legally give that fraternity re-
duced rates, but only for a moment, as the
commercial traveller realizes full well that
at last the consumer of the goods he sells
must pay his expenses, and so he goes on
his way rejoicing, seeking new fields OF
trndc and denouncing the Interstate Com
mission as "no good, "and "hollow fraud
The drummer is irrepressible and nothing
short of death can stop his progress or flow
of conversation.
The Navy Department has made a con.
tract with the Hotchkiss Ordnance Com
pany with the understanding that branch
of the marufactory will be established ir
the United States. Regarding the enterprise
Secretary Whitney says: "The erection o.
this mandatory will mark another era il
the reconstruction of the Navy" Contin
ung, the Secretary said: "Mr. Hotchkiss
was an American when he died in 1884
England, France, Germany, Russia, Italy
every European power in fact had an es
tablishment for the manufacture of Hotch
kiss ordnance" The Secretary further de
clares that this country can no longer de
pend upon foreign nations for war ma
terials.
There has been q new and agreeable de
parture made in military matters, too, TO
! the army must keep abreast of the navy II
this age Of universal progress. For tn
first time in our history, details of compa
nies from the regular regimental posts hav